Page 12 of Her Royal Houseguest

She waited a moment, sure she hadn’t heard correctly.

‘Above this are the servants’ rooms. As for facing east…’ She shook her head. There was nothing except for her own disastrous attic. That was at the very top. It had windows but it wasn’t fit for guests.

‘It is a requirement.’

‘Um, well, we have rooms that face east but these are the best guest rooms—’

‘No.’

‘But there isn’t anything…’ Her voice trailed away. His face and expression were implacable. And when she looked to the monks, they were no less austere. The older one would not look at her but raised his gaze to the ceiling. The other one—the one she guessed was the other prince—his expression was kind but he did not countermand any of Prince Deva’s demands.

‘We don’t have a room up there,’ she repeated. ‘I’m afraid we need some sort of compromise.’

‘They cannot compromise,’ Prince Deva stated. ‘It is a requirement.’ His brows rose. ‘Do we tell your prince that the accommodations are not suitable and request another?’

She wanted to laugh. He could try to make such a request of Prinny. See how far that got him.

Her father was hovering in the hallway. Papa knew the truth of the situation, as well as how annoyed Prinny would be by such a statement.

He bustled forward. ‘We do have rooms in the attic.’

‘They’re not prepared,’ she hissed. And they were her rooms!

‘Stanier!’ the duke snapped. ‘See the attic prepared for the monks.’

Their butler bowed. ‘I shall send maids immediately—’

‘No.’

Everyone turned to stare at Prince Deva.

‘It will only take a few moments to get the area prepared,’ her father began.

‘It cannot be cleaned by women.’

What?

The prince turned to stare hard at their butler. ‘It must be cleaned by men. In Siam, there are buildings where no woman has ever stepped. We compromise that a woman has already spent time there but it will be cleaned by men.’

Stanier gaped at the prince and said, ‘Your Royal Highness, there are some things that are not done in England—’

‘Do you not have sturdy men to accomplish this task?’ the prince interrupted. ‘Are you incapable of sorting a room?’

Stanier’s cheeks turned ruddy as his eyes narrowed at the insult. Damn it! Ducal pride was worse in the servants than among the titled. It was time to intervene.

‘They are capable,’ Anna stated loudly. ‘But it is my room upstairs. It is where I reside.’ That wasn’t exactly true. She had a bedroom on the second floor, but the attic was her private place. She would not be casually tossed aside.

The prince’s heavy gaze landed on her. ‘That is your space?’

‘Yes.’

He bowed his head. ‘You will be given recompense for your sacrifice.’ Then his expression softened. ‘Do I send to the boat for the sailors? They understand our needs.’

Show that a ducal household had to send to the docks for help? Anna shuddered at the possible gossip.

‘That’s not necessary. I’m sure we can find enough footmen to manage,’ she said stiffly. But she dreaded that her servants—that anyone—would see what a mess she kept in the attic. ‘If you would give me a moment, I’ll make sure all my things are removed.’

‘No,’ the prince said firmly. ‘No women.’